These completely seasoned and marinated Hen Fried Steak Fingers are so tender from the buttermilk soak and have the proper crispy, golden brown breading!
EASY TENDER JUICY STEAK FINGERS RECIPE
I like these Hen Fried Steak Fingers! I fell in love with them once we lived in Texas. I had all the time liked Hen Fried Hen, however I didn’t truly eat reallllly good Hen Fried Steak till we moved to Texas, and ever since then, I’ve been head over heels for this stuff. Don’t skip the buttermilk marinade – it makes all of the distinction!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
You wish to guarantee that your cubed steaks are lower than ½ inch thick. If they’re thicker than that, it is going to end in a harder steak. When trying within the grocery retailer, search for the thinnest ones you will discover, oftentimes they’ll nonetheless should be pounded right down to get skinny sufficient. Simply use a meat mallet to get them to the suitable dimension.
If you need to make this forward of time, I’d suggest following all directions and cooking the rooster fried steak fingers after which freezing, slightly than freezing the raw breaded meat. Gravy doesn’t freeze effectively, so I’d suggest making that recent when able to serve.
I used my 12-inch forged iron pan. It’s giant sufficient to suit a number of items of meat and is tall sufficient to deep fry meals in. In case you don’t have one which dimension, chances are you’ll have to prepare dinner them in additional batches.
Soaking in buttermilk is extremely advisable so you may get the meat good and tender. Whereas it’s not completely a MUST do should you’re out of it or don’t wish to, it’s one thing that I extremely suggest so you may get essentially the most tender, very best quality Hen Fried Steak Fingers.
No method. In case you don’t wish to undergo the work of the do-it-yourself gravy, that’s no downside. Simply use a packet of white pepper gravy as a substitute.
Certain! Begin by preheating your Air Fryer to 360F. Bread the steak fingers simply as you probably did with the unique recipe. Spray your basket with nonstick cooking spray. Place breaded steak fingers within the Air Fryer basket and prepare dinner in batches so that you don’t overcrowd the basket. Prepare dinner on 360F for 7 minutes. Fastidiously flip the fingers and prepare dinner one other 5-10 minutes or till the steak fingers are finished to your liking.
Leftovers could be saved in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3-4 days.


INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)
- cubed steak– I used about 6 items. When shopping for your steak, attempt to search for the thinnest sliced cubed steak you will discover.
- giant eggs
- milk
- complete buttermilk– complete buttermilk works greatest for the way we’re utilizing it on this recipe. The thickness of it helps the breading keep on with the meat. However be happy to make use of what you’ve got.
- saltine crackers– this makes for the perfect crunchy breading – belief me on this. If you’re watching your sodium you need to use unsalted crackers.
- all-purpose flour
- seasoned salt
- garlic powder
- paprika
- half and half – half and half makes an additional creamy gravy. In case you don’t have half and half, you would use common milk or heavy cream (chances are you’ll want to regulate the quantities).
- salt and pepper – in case you have nay sensitivities to salt, please be happy to regulate the salt and seasoned salt used on this recipe or use a salt-free mix.


HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN FRIED STEAK FINGERS
Utilizing a meat mallet, pound your steaks till they’re no less than lower than ½ inch thick (if they don’t seem to be already thinner than that). Then, you’ll lower cubed steaks into strips which are about 1 ½-inches vast. Place the cubed steak strips right into a bowl and pour 2 cups of buttermilk over prime of the meat. Gently stir to and ensure every strip is roofed. Let this marinate within the fridge for no less than 3 hours. After 3 hours, drain cubed steak strips in a strainer over a big bowl. Let this sit and drain whereas you put together the breading combination.


In a shallow bowl, mix ½ cup flour, the crushed crackers, seasoned salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. In a second bowl, add the remaining ½ cup of flour and season with salt and pepper. Within the third bowl, whisk collectively eggs and milk.


Take one strip of cubed steak and coat with the flour combination. Subsequent, dip it within the egg combination after which coat it evenly with the cracker combination. Lay on a baking sheet to relaxation whilst you proceed the method for the remaining strips. *tip* refrigerate breaded steak finger for half-hour earlier than frying. This will assist the breading stick higher.


In a big frying pan (forged iron works greatest), warmth 2-3 inches of oil to 325 levels. As soon as your oil is as much as temperature, prepare 4-5 strips in pan and prepare dinner for 4 minutes on one facet and flip. Prepare dinner for an additional 3 minutes or so, till golden brown. The inner temperature ought to learn 145 levels. Take away steak fingers to a wire rack to empty the oil. Proceed cooking the remaining meat in batches.


Warmth the reserved 5 tablespoons of oil or butter in a skillet over medium excessive warmth. Add in flour and whisk vigorously till all clumps are gone. Prepare dinner for 3 minutes, stirring consistently to keep away from scorching. Slowly add within the half and half and proceed whisking to combine every little thing collectively effectively. Add in salt and pepper. Scale back warmth and permit to simmer for 10 minutes so it could actually thicken.


Serve the gravy with the steak fingers and luxuriate in!


CRAVING MORE RECIPES?
Initially printed: July 2024
Up to date photographs and republished: April 2025


For the Hen Fried Steak Fingers:
Hen Fried Steak Fingers:
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You wish to guarantee that the cubed steaks are lower than ½ inch thick. If they’re thicker than that, it is going to end in a harder steak. If vital, you have to to make the steaks thinner by pounding them with a meat mallet. Then, you’ll lower cubed steaks into strips which are about 1 ½ inches vast.
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Place the cubed steak strips right into a bowl and pour 2 cups complete buttermilk over prime of the meat. Gently stir and ensure every strip is roofed. Let this marinate within the fridge for no less than 3 hours (this may additional tenderize the steak).
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After 3 hours, drain cubed steak strips in a strainer over a big bowl. Let this sit and drain whilst you put together the breading combination.
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In a shallow bowl, mix ½ cup all objective flour, 25 saltine crackers, crushed, 1 teaspoon seasoned salt, 1 teaspoon garlic powder and ¼ teaspoon paprika. In a second bowl, add the remaining ½ cup all objective flour and season with salt and pepper (about 1/2 teaspoon every). Within the third bowl, whisk collectively 2 giant eggs and 1/3 cup milk.
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Take one strip of cubed steak and coat with the flour combination.
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Subsequent, dip it within the egg combination after which coat it evenly with the cracker combination.
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Lay on a baking sheet to relaxation whilst you proceed the method for the remaining strips. TIP: If in case you have time, refrigerate breaded steak finger for half-hour earlier than frying. This can assist the breading stick higher.
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In a big frying pan (forged iron works greatest), warmth 2-3 inches of peanut oil or lard to 325F levels.
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As soon as the oil is as much as temperature, prepare 4-5 strips in pan and prepare dinner for 4 minutes on one facet and flip. Don’t overcrowd the pan or the meat will simply steam and never get crispy. Prepare dinner for an additional 3 minutes or so, till golden brown. The inner temperature ought to learn 145 levels.
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Take away steak fingers to a wire rack to empty the oil. Proceed cooking the remaining meat in batches.
Cream Gravy Instructions:
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Drain all however about 5 Tablespoons pan drippings of the pan drippings right into a warmth protected bowl.
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Add in 4 Tablespoons all-purpose flour and whisk vigorously till all clumps are gone. Prepare dinner for 3 minutes, stirring consistently to keep away from scorching.
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Slowly add in 2 ½ cups half and half and proceed whisking to combine every little thing collectively effectively. Add in 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper.
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Scale back warmth and permit to simmer for about 5-10 minutes so it could actually thicken. Style for seasoning and add extra salt and pepper to style. I have a tendency so as to add extra salt however that’s all private choice. Then flip off warmth.
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Serve gravy with steak fingers and luxuriate in!


- Please seek advice from my FAQ’s (Incessantly Requested Questions) and ingredient listing above for different substitutions or for the solutions to the most typical questions.
Energy: 724kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 43g | Fats: 43g | Sodium: 1.135mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g
“The Nation Prepare dinner” shouldn’t be a dietician or nutritionist, and any dietary data shared is an estimate. If calorie rely and different dietary values are necessary to you, we suggest operating the components via whichever on-line dietary calculator you favor. Energy and different dietary values can fluctuate fairly a bit relying on which manufacturers have been used.